Dataset Information

Complex Problem Solving in Teams: The Impact of Collective Orientation on Team Process Demands.

ABSTRACT: Complex problem solving is challenging and a high-level cognitive process for individuals. When analyzing complex problem solving in teams, an additional, new dimension has to be considered, as teamwork processes increase the requirements already put on individual team members. After introducing an idealized teamwork process model, that complex problem solving teams pass through, and integrating the relevant teamwork skills for interdependently working teams into the model and combining it with the four kinds of team processes (transition, action, interpersonal, and learning processes), the paper demonstrates the importance of fulfilling team process demands for successful complex problem solving within teams. Therefore, results from a controlled team study within complex situations are presented. The study focused on factors that influence action processes, like coordination, such as emergent states like collective orientation, cohesion, and trust and that dynamically enable effective teamwork in complex situations. Before conducting the experiments, participants were divided by median split into two-person teams with either high (n = 58) or low (n = 58) collective orientation values. The study was conducted with the microworld C3Fire, simulating dynamic decision making, and acting in complex situations within a teamwork context. The microworld includes interdependent tasks such as extinguishing forest fires or protecting houses. Two firefighting scenarios had been developed, which takes a maximum of 15 min each. All teams worked on these two scenarios. Coordination within the team and the resulting team performance were calculated based on a log-file analysis. The results show that no relationships between trust and action processes and team performance exist. Likewise, no relationships were found for cohesion. Only collective orientation of team members positively influences team performance in complex environments mediated by action processes such as coordination within the team. The results are discussed in relation to previous empirical findings and to learning processes within the team with a focus on feedback strategies.

SUBMITTER: Hagemann V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5627219 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Complex Problem Solving in Teams: The Impact of Collective Orientation on Team Process Demands.

Hagemann Vera V Kluge Annette A

Frontiers in psychology 20170929

Complex problem solving is challenging and a high-level cognitive process for individuals. When analyzing complex problem solving in teams, an additional, new dimension has to be considered, as teamwork processes increase the requirements already put on individual team members. After introducing an idealized teamwork process model, that complex problem solving teams pass through, and integrating the relevant teamwork skills for interdependently working teams into the model and combining it with ...[more]

PMID: 29033886

Similar Datasets

Project description:In this paper we argue that a synthesis of findings across the various sub-areas of research in complex problem solving and consequently progress in theory building is hampered by an insufficient differentiation of complexity and difficulty. In the proposed framework of person, task, and situation (PTS), complexity is conceptualized as a quality that is determined by the cognitive demands that the characteristics of the task and the situation impose. Difficulty represents the quantifiable level of a person's success in dealing with such demands. We use the well-documented "semantic effect" as an exemplar for testing some of the conceptual assumptions derived from the PTS framework. We demonstrate how a differentiation between complexity and difficulty can help take beyond a potentially too narrowly defined psychometric perspective and subsequently gain a better understanding of the cognitive mechanisms behind this effect. In an empirical study a total of 240 university students were randomly allocated to one of four conditions. The four conditions resulted from contrasting the semanticity level of the variable labels used in the CPS system (high vs. low) and two instruction conditions for how to explore the CPS system's causal structure (starting with the assumption that all relationships between variables existed vs. starting with the assumption that none of the relationships existed). The variation in the instruction aimed at inducing knowledge acquisition processes of either (1) systematic elimination of presumptions, or (2) systematic compilation of a mental representation of the causal structure underpinning the system. Results indicate that (a) it is more complex to adopt a "blank slate" perspective under high semanticity as it requires processes of inhibiting prior assumptions, and (b) it seems more difficult to employ a systematic heuristic when testing against presumptions. In combination, situational characteristics, such as the semanticity of variable labels, have the potential to trigger qualitatively different tasks. Failing to differentiate between 'task' and 'situation' as independent sources of complexity and treating complexity and difficulty synonymously threaten the validity of performance scores obtained in CPS research.

Project description:General practices are established microenterprises in Germany providing a variety of preventive and therapeutic health care services and procedures in a challenging working environment. For example, general practice teams are confronted increasingly with work-related demands, which have been associated with poor psychological and physical outcomes. It is therefore important to gain a better understanding of issues related to occupational health and safety for personnel working in the primary care setting. This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of psychosocial demands and resources in the primary care setting. We applied an ethnographic design, comprising a combination of participating observations, individual interviews with general practitioners (GPs) (N = 6), and focus group discussion with practice assistants and administrative staff (N = 19) in five general practices in Germany. A grounded theory approach was applied to analyze all data. Our results identified psychosocial demands and resources exemplified mainly along two typical tasks in GP practices: the issuing of medical prescriptions and blood sampling. Main psychosocial demands included factors related to work content and tasks, organization of work, and the working environment. For example, daily routines across all practices were characterized by a very high work intensity including disturbances, interruptions, delegation, and the division of labor between GPs and practice staff. Work-related resources comprised the staff's influence on aspects related to work organization and social support. The triangulation of methods and data formats allowed the disclosure of interconnectedness between these factors. Although work processes in general practices are complex and required to comply with legal regulations, there are opportunities for practice owners and practice teams to establish working procedures in ways that reduce psychosocial risks and strengthen work-related resources.

Project description:There is accumulating evidence for the value of collective and shared approaches to leadership across sectors and settings. However, relatively little research has explored collective leadership in healthcare and thus, there is little understanding of what works for healthcare teams, why, how and to what extent. This study describes the approach that will be adopted to the realist evaluation of a collective leadership intervention with four heterogenous healthcare teams in four different settings. A realist evaluation will be conducted. Realist evaluation is a theory-based approach to evaluation. It enables the use of mixed-methods to explore the research question of interest. Development of an initial programme theory (IPT) constitutes the first phase of the approach. This IPT will be informed by interviews with members of teams identified as working collectively, an examination of extant literature using realist synthesis, and will be refined through consultation with an expert panel. A multiple case study design will be adopted to explore the impact of the intervention, including quantitative scales on teamworking, leadership and safety culture, realist interviews with key informants and observations of teams during intervention sessions. Analysis of data will be guided by the IPT to refine the theory and context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Findings from the cases will be compared to identify patterns or demi-regularities and to explore if the intervention operates differently in different contexts. This analysis and synthesis of findings across the teams will inform the development of a middle range theory that will not only add to our understanding of how collective leadership influences teamwork and patient safety, but also provide guidance for future collective leadership interventions. Favourable ethical opinion has been received from the University College Dublin Ethics Committee. Results will be disseminated via publication in peer-review journals, national and international conferences and to stakeholders/interest groups.

Project description:Theory:Individuals have different qualities, levels of willingness, and degrees of engagement for working in teams. This behaviour is termed 'Collective Orientation' (CO). Collective orientation can be trained and has a positive influence on team processes. Here, we investigated the effect of a simulator-based, Crisis Resource Management team training upon the participants' CO. Hypotheses:We hypothesized (1) the scales of CO and Presence for lab-based microworld research (PLBMR) are applicable to the German anaesthesia teams, (2) the CO can be influenced by means of simulation training, (3) the training effect is dependent on sex and/or profession, and (4) the change of CO depends on the perceived presence of the participants in the scenario. Method:In a pre-post study, 66 nurses and doctors from various anaesthetic departments took part in a 1-day training course to improve non-technical skills. The primary outcome was the mean difference between the CO measured (via questionnaires) immediately before (T1) and after (T2) training. The change was then tested for dependence upon other variables, such as sex, professional group, and immersion into the simulation scenarios. Results:Collective orientation improved significantly after training (mean difference: 0.2; P?<?.001; dz?=?0.53). Considering the subscales, affiliation increased significantly (P?<?.001; dz?=?0.59), whereas dominance remained unchanged. Furthermore, no correlation was found regarding sex, professional group, or immersion into the simulation scenarios. Conclusions:Our study demonstrated that simulation-based training improves the participants' COs, primarily by increasing affiliation. Subjective scenario reality did not significantly influence this. Nonetheless, it remains unclear as to what factors categorically resulted in this benefit. The shared experience in the course by all team members might trigger the effects. However, further studies are needed to identify the modifiable factors that can improve teamwork attitudes.

Dataset Information

Complex Problem Solving in Teams: The Impact of Collective Orientation on Team Process Demands.

Publications

Complex Problem Solving in Teams: The Impact of Collective Orientation on Team Process Demands.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets